Cox announces five 2011 signees for cross country, track teams

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Tech cross country and track
& field programs have grown by five student-athletes as the
2011-12 season approaches. Head coach Tony Cox has announced the
recent additions.

The daughter of Charles and Julie Webb, Kara Webb is a 2011
graduate of Jefferson County High School, where she ran cross
country under coach William Ehrenclou and track and field for
coaches Jenn Tate and Katie Hayes. She was named the best distance
runner on her team for three consecutive seasons.

"Kara will be a great addition to the team," Cox said. "She
should make an immediate impact on the cross country team this
fall. She also ran in the state track meet this spring in the 1600
meters. She has a lot of potential to improve during her time at
Tech."

At Jefferson County, Webb helped lead the Patriots to the
Inter-Mountain Athletic Conference championship for four seasons in
a row and excelled in the 800 meter, where she posted a
personal-best time of 2:29.

Webb has yet to declare a major.

Harley Roach

Harley Roach is the daughter of Jon Wayne and Brenda Lee Roach
and is a 2011 graduate of Clarkrange High School, where she
competed in the shot put and discus and ran cross country for coach
Robert Ross.

In shot put, she followed up a fifth-place state finish as a
junior by taking third at the TSSAA Class A-AA State Track Meet in
her senior year. She achieved National Elite status in the shot put
with a throw of 37 feet, 10.5 inches and holds school records in
both shot put and discus, in which she holds a personal record of
89.9 feet. As a senior, she qualified for the regional finals in
discus.

"Harley is a hard worker with a lot of potential and is excited
to see how good she can be in college," Cox said.

Roach intends to major in pre-med at Tennessee Tech and aspires
to a career as an Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment
doctor.

Elizabeth Mitchell

The daughter of John and Alisa Mitchell, Elizabeth Mitchell
graduated from Coffee County Central High School in 2011, where she
was a four-year letterman in track and field under coach Stan
Jarrell and in soccer for coach Rhonda Winton.

She helped the Red Raiders qualify for the State Track Meet each
of her four years and specialized in the 4x800 meter relay, the
mile and 4x400 meter relay. She owns a personal record of 5:42 in
the mile and a best time of 2:29 in the 800 meter. In soccer, she
played midfield and defense and was named team captain in 2010.

"Elizabeth was an important part of her high school team, and I
expect her to contribute to the cross country and track team here,"
Cox said. "She has been working hard this summer to increase her
mileage to be ready for cross country season this fall."

Mitchell was the recipient of the Carden-Jarrell Memorial
Scholarship and was a member of the Beta Club and National Honor
Society. She plans to major in nursing at Tech.

Kendale Caldwell

The daughter of Dale and Louann Caldwell, Kendale Caldwell
graduated from Anderson County High School in 2011, where she was a
four-year letterman in track and field under head coach Al Rodd and
also ran cross country for the Mavericks.

Caldwell helped Anderson County to a sixth-place finish at the
TSSAA AAA Sectional Team Finals in 2011 and a state A-AA team
runner-up finish in 2008.

She competed in the 800 meter, 4x800 meter relay, and 400 meter.
In her primary event, the 800, Caldwell posted a personal record
time of 2:27.

"Kendale will contribute to our sprints group," Cox said. "She
will be a 200 and 400 meter runner who will help us in the relays
also. She is a hard worker and a good student, and I'm excited to
see how much she improves in the coming years."

She plans to major in elementary education at Tech.

Charlie Jordan

Charlie Jordan is the son of Mike and Robin Goode and is a 2011
graduate of Station Camp High School, where he lettered in cross
country and track and field under head coach Bob Frech.

Jordan competed in the 5K, 3200 meter, 1600 meter, 800 meter and
400 meter for Station Camp and posted a personal record time of
16:40 in the 5K.

He was the top finisher on Station Camp’s team at the
TSSAA Class AAA state meet in each of his four seasons, leading the
Bison to top 10 finishes each year, including a second-place finish
in Jordan’s sophomore season.

The Bison were region champions for three of Jordan’s four
seasons.

"Charlie was one of the top guys on his team in high school and
I expect him to come in this fall and be an important part of the
men's cross country team," Cox said. "He is a great student and is
working hard to improve his mileage this summer so he will be ready
to go this fall."

Jordan won Station Camp’s Career Excellence Award and was
the Sumner County Runner of the Year in 2009. He earned all-county
and all-Midstate honors all four seasons and was named all-state
twice.

Jordan plans to major in biology or pre-med at Tech.

The Golden Eagle cross country teams begin their 2011 seasons
Sept. 3 at the Sewanee Invitational in Sewanee, Tenn.